Preventing Miscarriages of Justice: Preliminary Response to the Report of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice

Out Of Print
Written by a panel of experienced criminal barristers and solicitors who for many years have been closely concerned with improving access to justice, this is a response to the report of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice. The Commission was set up on the day that the Birmingham Six walked free from the Court of Appeal.

The response argues that insufficient weight has been placed on the need to rebuild a credible criminal justice system. Beginning with an analysis of the causes of miscarriages of justice, it then considers the Royal Commission's proposals in relation to enforcing safeguards for defendants' rights. Significant defects in the report are highlighted, such as on disputed confessions, corroboration, defence disclosure of evidence, and the right to trial by jury and appeals. A list of miscarriages of justice since October 1989 is included.